Sailingdog, so you think it is the push and rotate type? If it is, I don't mind working it some, just didn't want to try to force it do something it wasn't meant to do.

Tommays, I agree with your line of thinking--I'd like to replace all the lights, but the boat's 350 miles away, so I really just need to get her home first. She'll be in the water in a few days, so I need to replace any bulbs and get spares, and worry about anything else once she's conveniently located 10 minutes from my house (assuming all goes well).

dont mean to but in but dog is right thats a push and rotate 1/4 turn actually - just changed my masthead bulb,same setup. Luckily for me the PO had used dialectic grease (36 yr old boat) I have no idea how long the bulb had been in there.

If you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning.